Randy Altschuler, a Republican businessman on Long Island, remains in a tight race against Democratic incumbent Tim Bishop. One campaign source tells FrumForum that an internal poll taken within the last week shows Altschuler within two points. Bishop’s campaign is desperately bringing in the big guns, reportedly asking Andrew Cuomo, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden to campaign and fundraise in the dying weeks of the campaign.

When asked to name the most important issues, Randy Altschuler replied, “Jobs and taxes.” The challenger called for extending the Bush tax cuts “for everybody,” and cited figures showing the percentage on Long Island of those earning more than $250,000 lies between 9 and 14 percent. Altschuler also supports providing tax incentives for small businesses to help create more jobs.

Randy Altschuler finished by stating he could document the 125 votes Mr. Bishop had made to raise taxes and said he stood for change in Washington, to help business, and keep money here rather than “pay for programs we can’t afford.”

“If you want to continue the policies of the Obama and Pelosi administration — if you want Obamacare, cap and trade, car check and further bailouts then you should vote for Tim Bishop.” The loud applause and cheers of many in the room indicated that they planned to do that.

Four-term Democratic incumbent Rep. Tim Bishop has been a virtual rubber-stamp for the Obama-Pelosi-Reid agenda, having voted for the $812 billion stimulus package, ObamaCare and cap-and-trade — a job-killing energy tax.

Randy Altschuler is an entrepreneur, having co-founded two successful companies — one providing recycling services for electronics and another offering business-support and employment services.

Randy Altschuler’s Blog: The Club for Growth REPEAL IT! Pledge is a no-nonsense affirmation of my belief that the health care plan pushed through Congress by Tim Bishop, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and President Obama is bad for taxpayers and bad for America. This legislation will raise taxes and increase the deficit, while not improving health care for the average American. Real health care will come when we have Tort Reform, a lifting of state barriers on health insurance and a host of other free enterprise solutions. Any candidate for Congress, Republican or Democrat should sign this pledge if they sincerely believe in reforming the American health care system.
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Randy Altschuler in Facebook: As additional information emerges on the Democrats’ $1 trillion health care overhaul, it is not
surprising that analysts now believe it will cost more than people were told. You have my word that I will fight to repeal Obamacare and replace it with free market initiatives that will work to lower costs and premiums, while increasing coverage and improving the quality of our health care.

The following oped from Randy Altschuler is running in weekly papers across the First Congressional District:

This year’s projected deficit is $1.55 trillion. This unsustainable spending is only dwarfed by the size of ObamaCare. Over the next decade, the true cost of this legislation could surpass $2.5 trillion.

Moreover, the projected deficit reduction the bill offers is an accounting charade. Former Congressional Budget Office director Douglas Holtz-Eakin estimates that an additional $562 billon will be tagged on to an already bloated deficit.